> For example, how to make
> <xsl:copy-of select="@*[not(name() = ($new/@*/name()))]"/>
> namespace safe in XSLT 2 ?  as

as has been stated earlier, you can use the attribute() name test.
eg
@* except attribute(xlink:href)

> <xsl:copy-of select="@* except ($new/@*)"/>
> does not work, even if there are attributes that match in name (+ 
> namespace) and value?

@* except ($new/@*) is a legal expression, but is the same as @* unless
the current node is $new in which case it is the same as ().
except works on node identity not node name or value.



David

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